Netanyahu to hold press conference amid death rumours, Iran claims strike on US F-35 jet

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold a press conference with international media, his first since rumours of his death emerged on social media. Previous videos released by Netanyahu's office were met with scepticism, with claims they were AI-generated. Iran has claimed to have struck an American F-35 jet, with Iranian media showing footage of forces targeting the fifth-generation stealth aircraft conducting a combat mission over Iran. The jet reportedly made an emergency landing safely. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Emir of Qatar, condemning Iran's attack on the Ras Laffan gas field and expressing solidarity with Qatar. Modi emphasised safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The West Asia conflict has escalated with strikes on key energy infrastructure including the South Pars gas field and Qatar's Ras Laffan hub, raising global concerns over energy supply and potential recession. US President Donald Trump stated the war will end soon and denied plans for ground troop deployment.